annual check-up

[Stacy55]

during last years annual check-up, the vet just gave Baron his lymes shot, i guess (DH2PP/RV/Lymes/BDT) and re-stocked us with Revolution. i was wondering if i should be aware of anything else so i can ask the vet about it when i get there. curious what your vet checks for check-ups. thanks for reading, please reply.

[Ellie May]

Wow, that is too much on a Yorkie system in one day.

Vaccines should be spread out and rabies should never be given on the same day as other vaccines. Lymes isn't usually recommended (depending on the area and risk of disease).

If Baron had pup shots and a one year booster, I wouldn't give him DHPP at all this year, especially if titers come back high. Rabies you will have to go with the law but if your state says give rabies as a pup, one year later and then every three years, don't let your vet force you to get it every year.

[Ellie May]

Well, I didn't answer your question.

The vet should listen to the heart and lungs, temperature, weight, maybe palpate body all over (more so in aging pets but it is good at any age), maybe look at eyes and in ears...

I would ask the vet to check knees for luxating patella (just by hand, not an xray unless it is needed).

If he has never had blood work before, it would be good to do it and get a baseline. At about age 7 he should absolutely have it at least once a year. Doing it every year starting now would be even better.

I don't know if you are interested in extras like the bile acid test for liver function. It isn't something you have to do but it is good to do in Yorkies.

Urinalysis is not too important at a young age but it will be as he gets older. Starting that now wouldn't hurt if you want to.

A stool sample should be checked 1-2 times a year.

A heartworm blood test is usually done before medication is given.

I'd also have the vet check his teeth because Yorkies tend to gets lots of build-up.

[Stacy55]

wow thanks for informing me about all this. i had no clue. the vet didnt really explain the DH2PP/RV/Lymes/BDT, and at the top right hand corner they have canine dist., lyme vaccine, rabies booster, and Bdt planned out for this years check-up. should i tell them that i dont think its necessary? since Baron's 2 years old and had already gotten the rabbies shot twice.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Stacy55

wow thanks for informing me about all this. i had no clue. the vet didnt really explain the DH2PP/RV/Lymes/BDT, and at the top right hand corner they have canine dist., lyme vaccine, rabies booster, and Bdt planned out for this years check-up. should i tell them that i dont think its necessary? since Baron's 2 years old and had already gotten the rabbies shot twice.

It looks like NY has a three year schedule. So, you would vaccine as a pup, one year later and then every three for rabies (unless it is different in your city/county). This is a very strong vaccine and quite dangerous long-term. I would never give it more than necessary. Now they have one-year rabies vaccines and three-year rabies vaccines. For the most part these are the same but labeled differently to satisfy different states' laws. So while you can go to the vet and say you don't want it for two more years, they are going to tell you that they used the "one-year" vaccine last year and have to do it again. Legally they might have to if they used the one that is supposed to be for one year use. However, if the law is to do it every three years in your area and they are trying to give it every year or they used the one labeled for one-year use last time when they should've used the one labeled three-year, you might need to change vets.

This is all so much to learn and deal with.
You can type "vaccines" into the search on YorkieTalk and gets lots of information.

If you are anywhere near Cornell I would call them and ask if they recommend lymes for Yorkies in NY.

[Stacy55]

i cannot thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into answering my question. im gonna talk to my vet about this and if it doesnt workout i think it would be best to go to another vet. thanks again!